Recap:
The group, amidst their search for Aurora, uncovers a surprising detail: she has significant wealth, enough to afford a private plane. This revelation challenges their understanding of who Aurora really is, intensifying the mystery.
The conversation at the café reveals heightened tension as the group processes this unexpected information. Amber and Flare question Jace, speculating he might know more about Aurora's financial status, but Jace vehemently denies having any such knowledge.
Flare attempts to lighten the mood by steering the conversation toward Aiden, another figure with his own layer of intrigue. He has been on tour, traveling alone without bodyguards, and even his agency is unaware of his exact location. This shift in focus provides a brief reprieve from the weight of the situation with Aurora, but the underlying mystery persists, leaving the group with more questions than answers.
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They were deep in conversation, their focus nowhere near Aurora's situation. The sudden buzz of Ace's phone broke through the chatter. He picked it up without much thought, assuming it was just another message from his agency.
But the name on the screen stopped him. His heart skipped, then raced. He blinked, making sure he wasn't seeing things. With a shaky thumb, he opened the message. As he read, his face told a story of its own—his wide eyes seemed to grow wider with each second, like they were ready to pop out entirely.
Amber noticed first. "What is it?" she asked, leaning closer, her brows knit with both curiosity and concern.
The air in the room seemed to shift, heavy with an unspoken tension that gripped them all.
"He's coming back," Ace said, his voice barely more than a whisper, his eyes glued to the glowing screen of his phone.
"Who's coming back?" Jace asked, turning toward him, his brows furrowing in confusion.
"Aiden!" Ace nearly shouted, his voice cracking with unrestrained excitement. "He's coming back!" He was practically bouncing as the words tumbled out, a grin spreading wide across his face.
"WHAT?" Jace exclaimed, snatching the phone from Ace's hand before he could protest. His eyes scanned the screen, his expression shifting rapidly—shock, disbelief, and finally a matching grin of delight. It was all true. The message really was from Aiden.
Jace read it aloud, his voice trembling with excitement: Hi Bro, I hope you're doing well. Just wanted to let you know—I'm coming back to Korea tomorrow. Meet you at our dorm.
For a moment, the room was still, save for the sound of their hearts racing. The realization hit both of them like a wave. Aiden was coming back.
Ace let out a whoop of joy, practically leaping from his chair. "He's actually coming back!" he repeated, his words filled with pure, unfiltered happiness.
Jace shook his head in disbelief, his smile refusing to fade. "I can't believe it... Aiden's coming home."
"Shh! Lower your voice, someone might recognize you," Amber whispered sharply, glancing around nervously, her tone laced with caution.
"Why are you so excited, anyway?" Flare chimed in, her eyebrows raised skeptically. "Of course, he was on a holiday—he was bound to come back eventually," she added, her words dripping with a mix of disbelief and nonchalance.
Ace and Jace's expressions darkened at her words, a shadow of unease passing between them.
"Actually... about a month ago, when he decided to go on that holiday—it wasn't exactly a holiday," Jace began, his voice quieter now.
"Then what was it?" Amber asked, leaning forward, sensing something deeper.
"Well," Ace hesitated before continuing, "he wanted to end his contract with the agency. But when the agency refused to agree to his request, he made up his mind to leave anyway—without telling anyone. To put it bluntly, he ran away."
"But why?" Flare frowned. "Was he forced to do something he didn't want to? Is that why he decided to leave the K-pop world altogether?"
"No one knows," Jace replied, shaking his head. "He never gave us a reason, not even a hint. The agency didn't pressure any of us—they were always understanding. That day, we were in the studio, recording as usual. Once we wrapped up, he went straight to the manager and said he wanted to quit being an idol. And when the agency said no, he just… left. No explanation, no goodbyes. He was just gone."
The room fell into a heavy silence, each of them processing the revelation in their own way. Slowly, the conversation shifted from Aiden to Aurora, and they spent some time mulling over the complexities of both situations.
Eventually, the boys dropped the girls off at their house, exchanging soft goodbyes before heading back to their hotel. By the time they arrived, it was already 9:30 PM. There wasn't a moment to waste—packing for their 11:00 PM flight took priority, and they hurried to get everything ready.
By 10:40 PM, they reached the airport, just in time. As they moved through the bustling terminal, they suddenly spotted two familiar faces.
"What are you guys doing here?" Ace asked, his tone a mix of surprise and confusion.
Amber smirked. "We're going with you to Korea."
Jace blinked in disbelief. "But Amber, Flare, you can't just get up and leave! You need a passport and a visa!"
"We already have those," Amber replied, her expression calm yet smug.
"How?" Ace and Jace exclaimed in unison.
Flare shrugged. "We've been planning to go to Korea for a while now to continue our studies."
Before the boys could process this unexpected news, the airport speakers crackled to life. "Last call for passengers flying to Seoul," the announcement echoed.
Snapping out of their surprise, the group bolted toward the gate, their adrenaline propelling them forward. They couldn't afford to miss the flight—too much was at stake.
The flight took off smoothly, and, as luck would have it, there were two empty seats in business class. It felt like the universe had granted them a small mercy after the whirlwind day they'd just endured. The hours leading up to their departure had been a blur of revelations and unexpected twists, each moment bringing something new to process.
Drained from the rush and the emotional rollercoaster, they barely managed to settle into their seats before sleep claimed them. The soft hum of the plane's engines, paired with their exhaustion, made it impossible to stay awake.
7:00 A.M. – Morning (Korean Standard Time)
As they stepped out of the airport, the first thing that greeted them was a large, gleaming sign:
"WELCOME TO SOUTH KOREA"
The bold letters stood as a silent but powerful reminder—they had arrived. A wave of excitement rippled through the group, momentarily shaking off the remnants of fatigue from their journey. The cool morning air and the bustling energy of the terminal hinted at the fresh start and answers that awaited them.
Their agency car was already waiting for them outside the airport, sleek and discreet as always. The tinted windows shielded them from curious gazes, a necessary precaution in their line of work. As usual, they were fully covered—hoods up, masks on—blending into the crowd just enough to avoid recognition.
Without wasting any time, they slipped into the car, the doors shutting with a muffled thud. The interior was quiet, offering a brief moment of solace from the chaos of the past few hours.
The drive wasn't long, and soon enough, they arrived at their destination. Calling it a dorm seemed almost laughable; it was more of a villa, a haven tucked away from the public eye. The entrance opened to a spacious courtyard surrounded by lush greenery, with vibrant flowers blooming in neat beds along a winding stone path. A small fountain stood at the center, its gentle trickle adding a calming ambiance.
Inside, the villa's modern interior exuded both comfort and luxury. The living area featured high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling glass windows that framed the view of a meticulously maintained garden in the backyard. Plush couches and soft rugs created a cozy vibe, contrasting with sleek, minimalist furniture.
The garden itself was a retreat within a retreat—a small wooden deck led to a peaceful seating area shaded by an old cherry blossom tree, its pink blooms swaying gently in the breeze. A koi pond sparkled under the morning sun, the delicate movements of the fish mesmerizing anyone who glanced its way.
As the boys stepped inside, a familiar sense of relief washed over them. No matter how chaotic things became, this place was their sanctuary—a perfect blend of elegance and warmth, where they could truly relax and prepare for whatever came next.
Ace asked the maids to carry the luggage to their respective rooms and to guide the girls to the guest rooms. With everything sorted, they headed to their individual rooms to freshen up, the exhaustion of the journey lingering in their steps.
When they came back downstairs, feeling somewhat rejuvenated, their attention was drawn to the living room. A figure lounged casually on the couch, completely at ease. As they stepped closer, curiosity turned into disbelief.
It was Aiden.
The one they thought they wouldn't see until later, the one whose return had been a whirlwind of emotions and questions. Yet, here he was, sitting like he'd never left, a relaxed smile tugging at his lips.
"What's up, guys?" Aiden asked, getting up from the couch, a casual grin playing on his lips.
"Aiden, bro, I missed you so much!" Jace exclaimed, rushing over to pull him into a tight hug.
"Yeah, I missed you too," Aiden replied, trying—and failing—to wiggle free from Jace's embrace.
"When did you get back?" Ace asked, his curiosity cutting through the moment.
"Early this morning, around 2:00 A.M.," Aiden answered, finally managing to escape Jace's iron grip.
"Hi, Aiden." The cheerful voices drew their attention toward the staircase, where Amber and Flare stood, smiling faintly.
"Whoa! You brought my sister-in-laws!" Aiden teased, walking toward them, his playful energy palpable.
"Hi, beautiful ladies. It's been a whole month since we last talked," Aiden said, his flirtatious nature showing effortlessly. It was, after all, second nature to him.
Among the few people who knew Aiden's true identity beyond his bandmates were his future sisters-in-laws and the staff at the villa. Here, within the walls of his home, he didn't need to hide behind masks—literally or figuratively.
"That's because you ran away without telling anyone," Flare retorted, her sarcasm hitting like a sharp jab.
For a moment, Aiden's playful demeanor faltered. His expression darkened slightly, but he quickly recovered.
"I was just on holiday, sis," he replied, forcing a grin and keeping his tone light, that cheerful front he only allowed his loved ones to see.
"We all know you didn't just go on a holiday," Ace interjected firmly. "Well, we'll need an explanation—if not now, then later."
The tension in the air lingered briefly before easing as the group shifted to lighter topics. They chatted about Aiden's return, shared a few laughs, and delved into discussions that momentarily moved their focus away from the complexities of recent events.
Soon after, they moved to the dining area and had lunch together, their chatter filling the villa with warmth. Amidst the meal, Ace casually mentioned that he had already arranged for Amber and Flare's admission into the same college as theirs, a gesture that earned him looks of gratitude from the girls.
After having lunch, the group decided to head out for some shopping, preparing for their college the next day. The lively streets, filled with colorful displays and excited chatter, offered a welcome distraction from the whirlwind of recent events.
---------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, Aurora was seated in a quiet, dimly lit room elsewhere, far from the bustling streets. Her phone buzzed on the table, breaking the silence. She picked it up with her usual composed demeanor.
"Ma'am, they managed to get admission in that college—with Ace's help," Adrien reported over the line, his voice steady but tinged with hesitation. "Do you want me to do something about it?"
Aurora leaned back in her chair, her expression calm and unreadable. "No, let it be," she replied after a pause. "Let's see what they're up to."
She hesitated for a moment, then continued, her tone sharp and inquisitive. "By the way, I got word that Aiden—the third member of Horizon—has returned. Is that true?"
There was a brief silence on the other end before Adrien stammered, "Y-y-yes, ma'am, that's true."
Aurora's eyes narrowed slightly at his unusual hesitation, but she kept her voice measured. "Okay then. Bye," she said curtly, ending the call.
She stared at the blank screen for a moment longer, her fingers drumming lightly against the table. Something about Adrien's hesitation gnawed at her, but she shook her head, dismissing it as a trick of her imagination. For now, there were bigger things to focus on.
Preview of Next Chapter:
The next day, campus life buzzed as usual. Ace, Jace, and Aiden went about their routine, surrounded by their usual crowd of admirers. Meanwhile, Amber and Flare caused their own commotion, drawing fans curious about their beauty and connection to the idols.
Amidst the chaos, whispers about a mysterious new girl spread like wildfire. Her beauty and identity became the hottest topic on campus. As the boys settled into their classroom, the door opened, and all heads turned. In walked the girl everyone had been talking about, her gaze sweeping the room before locking eyes with them.